Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said "contrary to popular belief," the club's new ownership group has "gotten a lot of support from the community." Jeter, speaking with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on the "Executive Access" podcast, said, "I know there’s been a lot of noise that’s been out, but the warm welcome we’ve gotten from the community has been something that we have appreciated. People, as individuals, as corporations reaching out, saying they want to be a part of this journey, that’s the one thing I think our ownership group is excited about." Jeter said of unhappy fanbases, "I’d rather them be passionate about an organization as opposed to just not caring." He said of reports that the word "rebuild" has been banned around the club, “I wouldn’t say I’ve banned the word ‘rebuild,’ I just purposely have not used it. There’s negative connotation with the word ‘rebuild,’ so I say, ‘We’re building something here. We’re building something sustainable.’ Every time I’m asked about that word, I just correct whoever’s asking me." Meanwhile, Jeter said of ownership advice he has gotten, "The number one lesson you get is, you have a plan and you stick to the plan. You may take some criticism along the way but ultimately you have to stick to the script, and that’s what we’re going to do here." Feinsand asked, "Has it been difficult to go through this process and trade away players and, knowing that you’re looking long term, but fans and other people are looking short term at these kinds of things?" Jeter: "If you look short term, the team wasn’t winning. Bottom line. I don’t care what anyone’s opinion is, it’s factual. The team was not winning. So, if the team’s not winning, and you want an opportunity to have a sustainable franchise, you have to make changes. That’s the way I looked at it coming in. From our opening press conference, I said, ‘There may be some unpopular decisions that are made, but it’s for the betterment of this organization,’ and it’s pretty simple" ("Executive Access," MLB.com, 3/4).
